zhǎnwèi: 展位 - Exhibition Booth, Stand, Stall

• Keywords: zhǎnwèi, 展位, exhibition booth in Chinese, trade show booth, stand, stall, Canton Fair booth, China Import and Export Fair, booth rental in China, business Chinese vocabulary, trade fair Chinese.
• Summary: Learn the essential business Chinese term 展位 (zhǎnwèi), meaning “exhibition booth” or “trade show stand.” This guide provides a deep dive into its meaning, character breakdown, and cultural significance within China's massive trade fair industry. With over 10 practical example sentences and analysis, you'll master how to discuss booking, locating, and managing a booth for events like the Canton Fair.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhǎn wèi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Essential for Business Chinese)
• Concise Definition: A designated space or area for display at an exhibition, trade fair, or exposition; an exhibition booth or stand.
• In a Nutshell: 展位 (zhǎnwèi) is the specific spot a company rents at a trade show or exhibition to display its products and meet potential clients. It's a very direct and practical term, combining the idea of “displaying” with “a position.” If you're doing business in China, especially involving trade fairs, this is a non-negotiable word to know.

• 展 (zhǎn): This character means “to exhibit,” “to display,” “to unfold,” or “to open up.” Think of unfurling a scroll painting or laying out goods for people to see. It’s all about showing something openly.
• 位 (wèi): This character means “position,” “place,” or “location.” It is also a polite measure word for people. In this context, it simply refers to a physical spot.
• The two characters combine literally and logically to mean an “exhibition position” — which is exactly what a trade show booth is.

The term 展位 (zhǎnwèi) is more than just a word; it's a gateway into understanding the scale and intensity of modern Chinese commerce. China is home to some of the world's largest trade fairs, like the Canton Fair (广交会 Guǎngjiāohuì) and the China International Import Expo (CIIE, 进博会 Jìnbóhuì). In this environment, securing a good 展位 is a critical business objective and a status symbol. A company's success at a fair can be determined by its 展位's location (位置 wèizhì) — a booth near the main entrance is prime real estate, signalling importance and attracting more foot traffic. This is comparable to the Western concept of getting a flagship store on Fifth Avenue, but concentrated into a single, high-stakes, week-long event. The competition for these spots is fierce, and the process of booking (预订 yùdìng) a 展位 is a significant part of a company's annual marketing strategy. Therefore, understanding 展位 isn't just about vocabulary; it's about appreciating the high-energy, competitive, and relationship-driven nature of Chinese trade shows.

展位 (zhǎnwèi) is a standard, neutral term used in all business and professional contexts related to exhibitions. You will hear it constantly when planning, attending, or discussing a trade fair.

• In Business Negotiations: Companies will discuss the cost (费用 fèiyòng), size (大小 dàxiǎo), and location (位置 wèizhì) of their 展位. “Our booth is 18 square meters” (我们的展位是十八平方米).
• On-site at an Event: It's used for giving and asking for directions. “Where is your booth?” (你们的展位在哪里?).
• Marketing and Planning: Teams will talk about designing (设计 shèjì) and setting up (布置 bùzhì) the 展位 to attract customers.

The term is neither overly formal nor informal; it is the correct and professional term for the job.

• Example 1:
  • 我们需要在广交会上预订一个展位。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào zài Guǎngjiāohuì shàng yùdìng yī ge zhǎnwèi.
  • English: We need to book an exhibition booth at the Canton Fair.
  • Analysis: This is a very common and practical sentence for any business involved in trade shows. `预订 (yùdìng)` is the standard verb for “to book” or “to reserve.”
• Example 2:
  • 请问，华为公司的展位在几号馆？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, Huáwèi gōngsī de zhǎnwèi zài jǐ hào guǎn?
  • English: Excuse me, which hall is the Huawei company's booth in?
  • Analysis: A classic question you would ask at a large exhibition. `馆 (guǎn)` means “hall” or “pavilion.”
• Example 3:
  • 他们的展位设计得非常现代，吸引了很多参观者。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de zhǎnwèi shèjì de fēicháng xiàndài, xīyǐnle hěn duō cānguānzhě.
  • English: Their booth is designed very modernly and has attracted many visitors.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows how you can use 展位 as the subject to describe its characteristics. `参观者 (cānguānzhě)` means “visitor.”
• Example 4:
  • 这个展位的位置太偏了，几乎没有人过来。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge zhǎnwèi de wèizhì tài piān le, jīhū méiyǒu rén guòlái.
  • English: This booth's location is too remote, almost no one is coming over.
  • Analysis: This highlights the importance of `位置 (wèizhì)` or location for a booth. `偏 (piān)` means “remote” or “off to the side.”
• Example 5:
  • 明天早上八点，我们一起去布置展位。
  • Pinyin: Míngtiān zǎoshang bā diǎn, wǒmen yīqǐ qù bùzhì zhǎnwèi.
  • English: Tomorrow at 8 AM, let's go set up the booth together.
  • Analysis: `布置 (bùzhì)` is the specific verb for decorating, arranging, or setting up a space like a room or a booth.
• Example 6:
  • 一个标准的展位通常是九平方米。
  • Pinyin: Yī ge biāozhǔn de zhǎnwèi tōngcháng shì jiǔ píngfāngmǐ.
  • English: A standard booth is usually nine square meters.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence for discussing the logistics of renting a booth. `平方米 (píngfāngmǐ)` is “square meter.”
• Example 7:
  • 今年的展位费比去年贵了不少。
  • Pinyin: Jīnnián de zhǎnwèifèi bǐ qùnián guìle bù shǎo.
  • English: This year's booth fee is quite a bit more expensive than last year's.
  • Analysis: `展位费 (zhǎnwèifèi)` is a compound word: “booth fee.” This is a key term in exhibition budgets.
• Example 8:
  • 如果您有任何问题，可以随时来我们的展位找我。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nín yǒu rènhé wèntí, kěyǐ suíshí lái wǒmen de zhǎnwèi zhǎo wǒ.
  • English: If you have any questions, you can come find me at our booth at any time.
  • Analysis: A polite and professional phrase to use when networking at a trade fair.
• Example 9:
  • 我们的展位号是 A-108，就在主通道旁边。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de zhǎnwèihào shì A-yī líng bā, jiù zài zhǔ tōngdào pángbiān.
  • English: Our booth number is A-108, right next to the main aisle.
  • Analysis: `展位号 (zhǎnwèihào)` is the “booth number.” `主通道 (zhǔ tōngdào)` is the “main aisle/passageway.”
• Example 10:
  • 由于预算有限，我们只能租一个最小的展位。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú yùsuàn yǒuxiàn, wǒmen zhǐ néng zū yī ge zuì xiǎo de zhǎnwèi.
  • English: Due to a limited budget, we can only rent the smallest booth.
  • Analysis: This sentence realistically portrays a common business constraint. `预算 (yùsuàn)` means “budget.”

• 展位 (zhǎnwèi) vs. 摊位 (tānwèi): This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • 展位 (zhǎnwèi): Used for formal, often indoor, exhibitions and trade fairs (展览会). It implies a professional setup for a company.
  • 摊位 (tānwèi): Used for a market stall, a street vendor's spot, or a booth at a more casual fair or festival. Using 展位 to describe your spot at a night market would sound overly formal and out of place.
  • Incorrect: 我在夜市有一个展位卖小吃。 (Wǒ zài yèshì yǒu yī ge zhǎnwèi mài xiǎochī.)
  • Correct: 我在夜市有一个摊位卖小吃。 (Wǒ zài yèshì yǒu yī ge tānwèi mài xiǎochī.)
• 展位 vs. the English word “Booth”: The English word “booth” is broader. It can refer to a restaurant booth, a telephone booth, or a voting booth. 展位 (zhǎnwèi) is *exclusively* for exhibitions and trade shows. You cannot use it to ask for a table at a restaurant.

• 展览会 (zhǎnlǎnhuì): Exhibition, trade fair. The event where you find a 展位.
• 博览会 (bólǎnhuì): Exposition, expo. A larger, often international, version of a 展览会.
• 摊位 (tānwèi): A market stall or vendor's stand. The informal counterpart to 展位.
• 参展商 (cānzhǎnshāng): Exhibitor. The company or person who rents the 展位.
• 展品 (zhǎnpǐn): An exhibit; the items on display in a 展位.
• 展台 (zhǎntái): Exhibition platform/stand. Very similar to 展位, but can refer more specifically to the physical structure (the table, counter, platform) inside the booth space. Often used interchangeably.
• 布置 (bùzhì): To arrange, decorate, set up. The primary verb used for preparing a 展位.
• 广交会 (Guǎngjiāohuì): The Canton Fair. China's most famous trade fair, where securing a good 展位 is paramount.
• 位置 (wèizhì): Position, location. The most important factor determining the value of a 展位.
• 预订 (yùdìng): To book, to reserve. The action one takes to secure a 展位 in advance.